VULNERABILITY OF HOUSEHOLD TO FLOODING: THE CASE OF CHIRO TOWN, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

In Ethiopia, urban floods incidents have become serious problem in recent years. The overall objectives this study is to examining flood causing factors and vulnerability of households to flooding based on the three factors underpinning vulnerability at Chiro town Oromia Regional State. In order to meet the intended objectives, the present research followed descriptive and explanatory research method and employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches and also employed purposive sampling technique to select studied kebeles. Both primary and secondary data were collected through surveying questionnaire, interview, Focus Group discussion and field observation. The study identified about fifteen environmental and socio economic indicators to represent the three components of vulnerability: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity which collected from 124 sample households randomly selected three villages found in Chiro town. The selected vulnerability indicators were normalized and weighted to determine the overall vulnerability index of urban community to flood risks. Analysis of different flood vulnerability factors underpins sustainable flood risk management and the application of Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) approach is the hub of this study. According to the result findings, Land use/land cover, population density, topography, institutional problems and seasonal rainfall were found to be the most important vulnerability factors. The findings of the study revealed that the study area was experiencing varying levels of flood vulnerability. Accordingly, village 02 (0.628), the center of the town, was found to be the highest vulnerable area for flood hazard while 03 (0.336) and 01(0.238) villages were identified as moderate and lower level of vulnerability, respectively. The findings of the study also confirmed that social factors contributed much for flood vulnerability in Chiro town. Hence, future urban flood risk planning and management endeavors in the town of Chiro must be underpinned by proper utilization of the flood vulnerability map addressing social vulnerability component through both structural and non-structural urban flood risk management measures